THE distillery sector has beaten Government energy- efficiency targets, according to the Scotch Whisky Association.

The lobby group said the latest results from the Department of Energy and Climate Change revealed the 71 sites participating in the Spirits Energy Efficiency scheme had improved their energy efficiency by 25% since 1999, more than meeting the Government’s target for the sector.

The SWA said some 66 sites are Scotch whisky distilleries.

Meeting the energy-efficiency target allows companies to benefit from a 65% reduction in the Climate Change Levy, which will lead to a saving of about £2.6 million a year for the UK spirits sector.

Julie Hesketh-Laird, of the SWA, said: “This outstanding result has been achieved by investments in energy-saving technologies across the board, including the construction of new distilleries and investments in efficiency measures at existing sites.”

However, she added: “In our sector, we have long-called for our bottling operations to be eligible for inclusion in this effective climate-change scheme.

“It’s odd, illogical and inequitable that the bottling of other drinks can qualify for a Climate Change Agreement, but not the bottling of spirits at large stand-alone sites. This must be addressed.”

Drinks giant Diageo recently unveiled its £40m environmentally friendly Roseisle Distillery in Elgin, thought to be the world’s greenest whisky distillery. It is also the first to be built in Scotland in 30 years.